In early September, an #EnergyWings exposition, dedicated to the DTEK Grids sustainable development project of the same name (birds protection initiatives in particular) opened in the “Time Machine” museum in Dnipro. Its main goal is to draw public attention to the environmental protection and preserve the white stork population. During 10 years of project implementation, the company has already protected more than 10,000 specimens of this bird, symbolic for Ukraine. An exposition tells how exactly energy workers protect the storks and other birds that live near the grids.

DTEK, grids, forks, Ukraine

An #EnergyWings exposition recreates a nest, curled by the storks on the pole. In real life, such proximity to the power lines would pose a serious threat for the birds. But this stork family was lucky – DTEK electricians reinforced the nest with a special protective platform and attached light reflectors to the nearby poles so that the birds do not touch live wire when flying. That is how energy workers of the DTEK Grids Distribution System Operators have been protecting the birds for over 10 years in Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Odesa regions and the city of Kyiv within the framework of environmental and educational project #EnergyWings. During this time, they have already reinforced more than 500 nests in these regions and installed over 5,500 bird-protective appliances.

“Over the past 10 years, we have already helped protect more than 10,000 white storks. Now, we continue to expand the audience of our project #EnergyWings in order to protect even more birds with the help of the caring Ukrainians. An exposition in the “Time Machine” museum will also help us with that,” – tells DTEK Grids chief ecologist Olena Potapenko.

Reinforcement of nests on the poles and installation of bird-protective appliances on the power lines also help energy workers prevent emergencies and power outages at our customers.

“DTEK Grids is a foundation and support for normal life of Ukrainians. In 2023, we continue to focus all our efforts on restoring the electric infrastructure, destroyed by the enemy. At the same time, we do not stop implementing sustainable development projects that comply with UN GC Goals. Since 2013, our company has reinforced 537 stork nests, more than 200 of which are located in the Dnipropetrovsk region. 20 nests in the region have been relocated to the protective platforms since the beginning of a full-scale war. This helps us protect the birds and prevent power outages at our customers,” – underscored DTEK Dnipro Grids General Director Andrii Tereshchuk.

It was not a coincidence that the firsts exposition in Ukraine on the protection of the white stork by DTEK energy workers opened in the “Time Machine” museum in Dnipro. This is where examples of environmental inventions of humanity are presented – the first eco cars that appeared in Ukraine, a dynamo machine for producing “green” electricity, etc. Therefore, #EnergyWings added the exhibits that symbolize how people can adapt the progress to the needs of environment.

Visitors of the #EnergyWings exposition may also watch a video of how DTEK energy workers protect the storks and join the #EnergyWings project. Let us remind that DTEK Dnipro Grids has recently launched a new feature on its website that can help customers inform about the discovered stork nests on the poles and condition of birds in them.